Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Edmund Ruffin Journal, 1841-1851. Accession 14060, Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Julian N. Ruffin, 29 May 1922.

Biographical/Historical Information

Born in Prince George County, Virginia, on 5 January 1794. Member of the Virginia State Senate (1824-1827). He wrote and spoke on agricultural improvements for various newspapers, farm journals, and agricultural societies. He died on 18 June 1865 and was buried at "Marlbourne," in Hanover County, Virginia.

Scope and Content Information

Contains a detailed daily summary of Ruffin's farming activities on his plantation "Marlbourne" in Hanover County, Virginia. Included are his descriptions of the improvements he made, and agricultural experiments which he conducted. The journal is illustrated with diagrams of his fields, as well as charts indicating the types and amounts of crops planted. Weather conditions are also noted. There are also clippings of newspaper articles Ruffin wrote which appeared in the Richmond Whig and the Richmond Enquirer. At the beginning of the journal are minutes for the first meeting of the State Board of Agriculture for 6-10 December 1841. Ruffin was recording secretary for the Board.